Dem Leaders Ask Cuomo To Back Tkaczyk

Governor Cuomo has not been very active in state senate races this election cycle, instead backing fellow Democrats across the state running for Congress.

Now several Democratic leaders are asking the popular Governor to get involved in one of the closest state senate races – the 46th district race between Republican George Amedore and Democrat Cecilia Tkaczyk.

In a letter to the Governor 8 Democratic leaders from the Capital Region including Ulster County Democratic Chairman Frank Cardinale and Greene County Democratic Chairwoman Doreen Davis write asking him to speak out against the negative attacks against Tkaczyk.

We are writing to you with an urgent appeal to intervene in the race for the 46th Senate District.

At issue are political advertisements produced by the Republican candidate in the race, George Amedore. In direct mail and radio ads which are currently blanketing the district, Mr. Amedore is attacking his Democrat opponent, Cecilia Tkaczyk, for supporting your campaign finance reform proposal.

Mr. Amedore’s ads deride your proposal as “a new tax that the New York City special interests want us to pay.”
At the same time, in the very same ads, Mr. Amedore makes the claim that he is working closely with you to lead the state.

We find these ads to be highly objectionable. In this regard, it is preposterous for Republicans to attack Democrats for supporting your proposal and then turn around and portray themselves as your close political allies.

We would ask you to clear the record on this matter.

A new Siena Poll out this week showed Amedore with a small 3 point lead in the district, which was redrawn by GOP leaders specifically for Amedore and in an attempt to help them maintain control of the senate.

Complete letter is after the jump.

November 3, 2012

The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo
Governor of New York State
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224

Dear Governor Cuomo:

We are writing to you with an urgent appeal to intervene in the race for the 46th Senate District.

At issue are political advertisements produced by the Republican candidate in the race, George Amedore. In direct mail and radio ads which are currently blanketing the district, Mr. Amedore is attacking his Democrat opponent, Cecilia Tkaczyk, for supportingyour campaign finance reform proposal.

Mr. Amedore’s ads deride your proposal as “a new tax that the New York City special interests want us to pay.

At the same time, in the very same ads, Mr. Amedore makes the claim that he is working closely with you to lead the state.

We find these ads to be highly objectionable. In this regard, it is preposterous for Republicans to attack Democrats for supporting yourproposal and then turn around and portray themselves as your close political allies.

We would ask you to clear the record on this matter.

Again, Ms. Tkaczyk is a member of your party who is supporting your proposal for campaign finance reform. As she campaigns, she makes a point of saying that passing Governor Cuomo’s campaign finance reform proposal will be one of her top priorities in office.

Mr. Amedore opposes your campaign finance reform proposal as a “middle class tax increase. Mr. Amedore is a Republican, who, as far as we know, is not working closely with you.

In light of these facts, we ask that you come to the defense of Ms. Tkaczyk and make a public statement denouncing Mr. Amedore’s advertising and his candidacy.

We urge you to act as soon as possible. By setting the record straight on this matter, you would be standing up for fair campaigning and helping to ensure additional support for your proposals in the Senate.